Paarl policeman shoots lover
2006-10-19
AFTER having lived a double life for the past three years, a local policeman allegedly shot his girlfriend six times before turning the gun on himself.
Maria Arendse (32) died at the scene and Insp Walter Isaacs, who is stationed at the crime prevention unit of the police in Paarl, remains in a critical condition in the ICU ward at Paarl Medi-Clinic.
Isaacs, who lives at Gamy Close in Paarl-East, is currently under police guard.
According to a family member, Isaacs had already threatened Arendse on Friday after picking her up from her work place in Worcester and taking a drive to the Karoo Botanical gardens outside the town.
A family member said that Isaacs and Arendse had been having an intimate relationship for the past three years, but when Arendse discovered recently that Isaacs was married and had two children, she ended the relationship.
Isaacs could not accept this and according to the family member said, “If I cannot have you, no one will.”
His service pistol was confiscated after Arendse obtained a court interdict recently ordering him not to come near her, but he ignored this.
On Saturday morning Isaacs drove to the Mbekweni police station and explained to an officer on duty that he had left his weapon at his office and urgently needed a weapon for an operation he was involved in.
He then returned to Arendse’s flat in Worcester and allegedly randomly fired shots at Arendse while she was drying her hair.
Arendse’s thirteen year old niece, Brümilda Fredericks, who was visiting neighbours, ran to the flat when she heard the shots.
She found Isaacs standing over Arendse’s body. When he pointed the firearm at her, she fled the scene.
Isaacs drove to a nearby garage where he shot himself behind the right ear.
Isaacs’s wife Delene said that he had spent Friday evening at home, and on Saturday morning got dressed in his police uniform and went to ‘work’.
“I was shocked when I heard later that day what had happened and immediately went to the hospital.
“I have known about the relationship since last year, but Walter cared very well for me and our children. We will continue to stand by him and pray for his recovery.”
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